treatment of valvular heart disease

scientists have a genetic defect which increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Researchers from the U.S. and Canada found that up to one quarter of the white population carries the section of DNA, increases the risk of heart disease by around 40%. While Researchers in Iceland found the same genetic variant was associated with a fifth of all heart attacks.

Both teams of researchers scanned the genomes of patients with cardiovascular disease or had suffered a heart attack to see whether there are any differences between them and healthy people. The US / Canadian scientists found a section of DNA, called allele, na particular chromosome, which is associated with heart disease. The 23,000 people investigated and found that those with a copy of this allele a more moderate increased risk for heart disease, while those with two copies of about 20-25% of the white population, have a 30 to 40% higher risk of heart disease than people who no copies.

Professor Ruth McPherson, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, which in the study, said: "The effect is less than that of smoking or with a high cholesterol level. Nonetheless, screening healthy people for this genetic marker could be information on the future risk of heart disease and in identifying these individuals would be most of the early applications of strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk. "

The US / Canadian researchers are now to examine whether the findings also apply to people from black and Asian ethnic minorities.

Meanwhile in Iceland, the study of 17,000 people were on the same strand of DNA. They also noted that more than 20% of people had two copies of the defective allele, resulted in a 60% increased risk of heart attack, compared with those with no copies. Dr. Kari Stefánsson, the research for the Decode Genetics Company, said that if the risk of heart attacks were identified, then drugs such as statins, could, or cardiac procedures - as well as a healthy living advice - to reduce their risk.

Despite the research by two scientists are still not clear why this area of the genome is associated with heart disease, although researchers believe it may be related to the narrowing and hardening of the arteries.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "" in the search for genes that some families have an increased risk for heart attacks is like trying to find a collection of needles scattered in a field full of hay stacks. The importance of these two studies is that two independent research teams have homed on the same hay-stack. This makes it very likely that they are close to identifying a needle - an important gene in the region. This is still much more research and - once found - the gene is only one of several that are important. This research is an important step on a long journey, but a step in the right direction "."